John 10

Shepherd Versus Not-a-Shepherd

The Giraffe Named Not-A-Cow

Our seven-year-old granddaughter Anna Kate has a small giraffe on her nightstand that serves as a noise maker and lamp. The problem is it looks a lot like a cow to my old eyes. So, when I saw it, I

naturally asked her, “What’s the name of your little cow?”

She emphatically stated, “Dandy, (that’s my grandpa name) That’s not a cow, it’s a giraffe.” So now, every time I see her, I ask her, “How’s Not-a-Cow doing?” to which she replies, “That’s not a cow.” And I reply, “I know she’s Not-A-Cow. How’s she doing?”  And the game goes on.  

In John Chapter 10, in a confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus describes good leadership by comparing it to shepherding. He tells the Pharisees they have not been good shepherds. He describes what a good shepherd does, compared to what those who are not good shepherds do. He then proclaims that he is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus said the sheep know the shepherd’s voice and only listen to him because he calls them by name. He leads them by walking ahead and not driving them from behind. And he lays down his life for them. The shepherd is the only one who enters the sheep pen through the gate.

Those who are not a shepherds, on the other hand, never enter through the gate, but sneak over the wall because they come to steal, kill, and destroy. The sheep do not recognize their voices and so do not follow them unless tricked, because they don’t care about the sheep and will abandon them at any threat.

Jesus then tells them that He is not only the Good Shepherd, but also he is the Gate.

All that Jesus said was a type of parable to show that he is the Son of God and the religious leaders had failed in their job as religious leaders to the Jews. But it made me think about my “sheepy-ness” and how much I need to follow a good shepherd.

I don’t know about you, but if left to my own devices I wander aimlessly, get into trouble and wind up lost or in danger, just like a sheep. I love that Jesus tells us sheep that he is the good shepherd who laid down his life for us.

 Our little Schnauzer, Gidget, loves to explore her backyard. Her favorite place is the front gate that looks out to the street. I have made a wire mesh window so she can monitor neighborhood activity and bark at passersby.

Late one dark night, I heard her special high-pitched yelps indicating she was chasing a rabbit or squirrel. When I rounded the corner of the house I realized she was in a life-or-death struggle with a bobcat who had her around the throat. As soon as I yelled, the bobcat released Gidget and scurried up and over the gate.

Apparently, she had spied the bobcat through her gate window and barked at it. The bobcat, in turn, decided to slip over the gate for a late dinner of dog. If I had not intervened, she would have been a goner. Surprisingly, she still fearlessly barks at the gate, brazenly inviting more trouble.